There’s even more reason for families to compete considering they will be able to enter for a discounted fee.

“The event has evolved in to a real family affair with more and more families entering and for this year, if a family of three or more enter, we are offering them discounted entry fees off their total entry fee, so there is no excuse to get everyone in the water,” said race director, Warren van der Merwe from Super Sports Events, which is organising the swim.

“COEGA are a passionate brand when it comes to being out in the sun and in the water so we are very excited to be working with them on these races,” he added. “This swim series is now entering its 11th year on the Dubai swimming scene and will be the 20th race of this event.”

All people taking part can enroll in as many races as they want.

Entry costs Dh150 per adult and Dh100 per junior aged 18. All swimmers can enter as many races as they want with each participant receiving a medal, electronic chip timer and certificate. There will also be prizes for the top three finishers in each category and prizes from sponsors.

Managing director of COEGA, Maureen Hall, said: “Race One of the series saw many new faces and swim clubs so we are looking forward to seeing them all compete and having fun on the beach again.

“The number of competitors has increased every race and we will be displaying some of our COEGA products on race day for all to view with the lucky winners walking away with some of the products as prizes.”

The Abu Dhabi race was your first competitive duel in the water since your Rio heroics, how pleasing is it to begin the 2017 season strongly?

My performance was very encouraging and although I didn’t win, to come second in a competitive race was fantastic. It sets me well for the World Championships in Hungary and that is something I want to win.

I finished second in the previous edition but to get gold there is something I have my sights on for this season.

The Netherlands have a vast history of producing some outstanding swimmers with Pieter van den Hoogenband being one. In Rio, Sharon van Rouwendaal also claimed the women’s 10km gold for the country so how big is the sport in Holland?

Without doubt, football is the biggest sport in the country but swimming is quickly growing. The success we had in Brazil has only raised the profile of the sport in attracting more people to take up the sport.

Four years ago, there were only two long distance swimmers but now there’s a team of six competitive ones so it shows the sport is on the up. With more competition, that in itself gets the best out of me because I enjoy those types of challenges.

You’re still in your early 20s but is there anything you want to achieve before you retire?

My main target is to win the 10km gold at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. To become the first person to win two consecutive golds in Olympic Games over the same distance would be an extraordinary feeling but there’s still a long way to go.

Ferry Weertman with his Gold medal.

How did you get into swimmer and what is your training regime?

My mum used to take me to baby swimming classes and that’s where I got the feeling to being in a pool from early on. In terms of my training, I train 10 sessions a week which is around 30 hours in total per week.

I usually swim around 75 to 90km a week which is normal.

Who was your favourite swimmer growing up?

It was Maarten Van Der Weijden. He won the 2008 Olympic Games and was diagnosed with leukemia. But once he got the all-clear he continued swimming and that was very inspiring for me.

You also got the chance to meet Michael Phelps last year…

Yes, he’s a great swimmer who has won so many Olympic medals. It certainly won’t be possible for me to achieve as much as he has since there is only one 10km event in Olympic Games.

It was great to meet him. I’ve seen him so many times on TV and to see him in real life was a dream.

“When my turn came my mind just went blank and my heart raced faster and the smile on face didn’t leave my face six days after. It was the most amazing feeling and experience in my life.

“On my first wave I wiped out and it was painful but the second and third wave I rode all the way out, and now I’m super pumped and can’t wait for the next big swell at Mully.”

Mullaghmore has long been a hot-spot for so many of Europe’s big wave surfers, but for those outside of the sport, it is difficult to comprehend what makes it so special.

“It is just so unique wave that is big, barrels up, and heavy that a lot of big wave surfers loves it. There is no other wave like Mullaghmore as it has the shape, the size and the consistency of the swell,” added Rahma.